WTN: "In victory, deserve it; in defeat, need it” -Champagne

“In victory, deserve it ; in defeat, need it” Sir Winston Churchill


1998 Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill
Made from a secret blend, but clearly Pinot Noir-dominated. It is a magnificent elegant champagne with a combination of brioche, toasted bread, nuts, grapefruite, blossoms and a racy acidity. Elegant body and so focused, fresh with a brilliant long finish. Great aging potential. I have the feeling that for the rest of my life I will only drinking champagne anymore........
93pts.

Label: http://www.snakvin.com/foto/albums/user ... MG8488.JPG

Martin,

You've opened my favorite bubbly (Cuvee SWC) from my favorite Champagne house (PR). It sounds as though it's a very strong bottling, showing bare development with typically steady and gradual release. I think it's got a long road ahead for drinking and improvement.

These really do get quite unreal with some extended age, often presenting wild aromas, very jaded and wonderful. We lay in a bottle or two from every release (a big bottle or two in the best years) for a long and cold aging. I haven't touched the '98 yet, so you can see I like them old. For example, we opened the '85 from magnum last Fall for my birthday. It was a pinnacle in champagne enjoyment for me.

But now, dang it, you've made me want to open a '98 just to, ahem - status it. It's tempting to open one next month, because we could serve it alongside a bottle of '88, when another birthday tolls.

Jeff,

the president of Pol Roger, Patrice Noyelle, was in town on Monday and served me this terrific champagne. A true gentleman, Monsieur Noyelle.
Also the other versions from the vintage 98, I really enjoyed.

Oh yes, this ´98 is quite tempting......

Cheers,
Martin

Martin,

How special that event must have been. I have not had the pleasure of meeting M. Moyelle. So, there were other '98 bottlings too ? The Brut Chardonnay ? Tell me more. Pant, pant.

OK, we are definitely having the '88 and '98 paired for dinner.

Here a comment from the austrian wine-journalist Michael Pronay to my TN today:

"This wine was my favorite in a tasting I commented at VieVinum, the bi-annual wine show at Vienna Hofburg (the imperial Habsburg palace in the center of town) in June. We had some 15 wines of a quite eclectic provenance, but this was phantastic. The runner-ups for me (iirc: if you comment, you cannot take notes, and furthermore I heard 2 minutes before starting that commentaries in English really would be appreciated ... ) were Pommery Louise 1998 and Duval-Leroy 1996."

Jeff,

in addition I had 1999 Vintage Brut which was really good. Also I had 1999 Blanc de Blanc which was okay and 2000 Rosé which I didin´t like.

Cheers,
Martin

[Jenise]

Great TN title, Martin. And it's good to see a nice note on a 98--some regard this as a dud vintage.

Yes Jenise, I heared that too that a careful selection is necessary for the champagne vintage 98.